'''Eryn Vorn''' ([[Sindarin]] for '''Blackwood'''<ref name=RClxv/>) was a wooded cape in [[Eriador]].<ref name=UT>{{UT|6d}}</ref>

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Located in western [[Minhiriath]], Eryn Vorn was originally part of the vast ancient treescape that covered most of north-western middle-earth. '[[The Black Wood]]' was named by the [[Númenóreans]] during the second age.

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==History==

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During the [[Second Age]], however, these forests were decimated by the [[Númenóreans]] in their greed for ship-building timber, before being almost completely burnt down by the forces of Sauron during the ensuing war in Eriador.

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Located in western [[Minhiriath]], Eryn Vorn was originally part of the vast ancient treescape that covered most of north-western [[Middle-earth]]. The wood was likely named by the [[Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]].

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By the latter half of the second age, the surviving natives of Minhiriath had retreated either north to [[Bree]], or hidden themselves in Eryn Vorn.

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During the Second Age, however, these forests were decimated by the Númenóreans in their greed for ship-building timber, before being almost completely burnt down by the forces of Sauron during the ensuing war in Eriador.<ref name=UT/>

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Eryn Vorn was probably all that remained of the vast forests in [[Minhiriath]] for long years thereafter, but by the end of the Third Age, scattered woodlands had reappeared in much of the rest of Minhiriath.

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From 861 T.A., Eryn Vorn nominally formed a part of [[Cardolan]] ([[Arnor]]), but it was never really under the control of the king. The people of Cardolan were almost completely destroyed by [[The Great Plague]] a few centuries later, although it is not known how this affected Eryn Vorn.

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By the latter half of the Second Age, the surviving natives of Minhiriath had retreated either north to [[Bree]], or hidden themselves in Eryn Vorn which was probably all that remained of the vast forests in Minhiriath for long years thereafter.

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It is probable that people remained hidden in Eryn Vorn by the [[Third Age]], for although it is clearly recorded that no permanent settlements of men existed anywhere west of Bree by the late Third Age (in "The Lord of the Rings"), it is also said that "a few secretive hunter-folk lived in the woods" of Minhiriath at the time of [[The War of the Ring]] (in "[[Unfinished Tales]]").

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From {{TA|861}}, Eryn Vorn nominally formed a part of [[Cardolan]] and by the end of the Third Age, scattered woodlands had reappeared in much of the rest of Minhiriath.

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Presumably, then, any later inhabitants of Eryn Vorn lived a nomadic lifestyle, similar to that of the nearby "numerous but barbarous fisher-folk" along the coast of Enedwaith to the south.

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It is probable that people remained hidden in Eryn Vorn by the [[Third Age]], for although it is clearly recorded that no permanent settlements of Men existed anywhere west of Bree by the late Third Age,<ref>{{HM|RK}}</ref> it is also said that "''a few secretive hunter-folk lived in the woods''" of Minhiriath at the time of the [[War of the Ring]]. These people we are told were afraid to cross the river [[Baranduin]] because the Elves dwelt beyond it.<ref name=UT/><ref group="note">These Elves surely are the Elves of [[Lindon]], the realm located north of the cape.<!-- noted by User:Morgan --></ref>

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==Etymology==

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''Eryn Vorn'' is [[Sindarin]] and has been given the translation "Blackwood". The name consists of ''[[eryn]]'' ("wood") and ''vorn'' ("dark"),<ref name=RClxv>{{HM|RC}}, p. lxv</ref> the latter being the [[lenition|lenited]] form of ''[[morn]]''.<ref>[[Helge Fauskanger]], "[http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/sindarin.htm Sindarin - the Noble Tongue: I. Soft Mutation]" at [http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/ Ardalambion] (accessed 8 June 2011)</ref>

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The name ''Eryn Vorn'' first appeared on [[Pauline Baynes]]'s ''Map of Middle-earth'' ([[1970]]), for which [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] had supplied notes on additional names. The first printing of the map wrongly has ''Erin Voru''.<ref name=RClxv/>

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==Portrayal in adaptations==

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'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''

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: Eryn Vorn, the Black Wood (called ''Choil Borba'' in the local tongue), covers the promontory of Rast Vorn (the Dark Cape). The large wood is a wild land, inhabited by [[Woses]] and evil creatures.<ref>{{ICE|8107}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|8007}}, pp. 42-43</ref>

During the Second Age, however, these forests were decimated by the Númenóreans in their greed for ship-building timber, before being almost completely burnt down by the forces of Sauron during the ensuing war in Eriador.[2]

By the latter half of the Second Age, the surviving natives of Minhiriath had retreated either north to Bree, or hidden themselves in Eryn Vorn which was probably all that remained of the vast forests in Minhiriath for long years thereafter.

From T.A.861, Eryn Vorn nominally formed a part of Cardolan and by the end of the Third Age, scattered woodlands had reappeared in much of the rest of Minhiriath.

It is probable that people remained hidden in Eryn Vorn by the Third Age, for although it is clearly recorded that no permanent settlements of Men existed anywhere west of Bree by the late Third Age,[3] it is also said that "a few secretive hunter-folk lived in the woods" of Minhiriath at the time of the War of the Ring. These people we are told were afraid to cross the river Baranduin because the Elves dwelt beyond it.[2][note 1]

Etymology

Eryn Vorn is Sindarin and has been given the translation "Blackwood". The name consists of eryn ("wood") and vorn ("dark"),[1] the latter being the lenited form of morn.[4]

The name Eryn Vorn first appeared on Pauline Baynes's Map of Middle-earth (1970), for which Tolkien had supplied notes on additional names. The first printing of the map wrongly has Erin Voru.[1]